[Verse 1]
He's got nothing to say, he's got no excuse
He's just made that way, and he's going to stay that way
Like a dog on the loose in a firework display in a world of his own
No, no, no, he won't back down or go running back home

[Chorus]
He's come a long way in life
He's got a long way to go
He don't even know, he don't care because
He's growing up the hard way
In and out of trouble every day
Growing up the hard way
Now no telling where you'll end up, boy

[Verse 2]
And he's got nothing to say, like he's lost for the worlds, his mind is in a daze
That's his way, it's just a little game he plays
He's got nowhere to run while the city sleeps he wanders alone
Cutting through the steel and the hearts of stone

[Chorus]
He's come a long way in life
He's got a long way to go
He don't even know, but he don't care because
He's growing up the hard way
In and out of trouble every day
Growing up the hard way
You'd better walk the straight and narrow
[Bridge]
Growing up the hard way
In and out of trouble every day
Growing up the hard way
Never know what you're in for, boy

[Verse 3]
He's come a long way in life
He's got a long way to go
He don't want to know, and he don't care because
He's growing up the hard way
In and out of trouble every day
He's growing up the hard way
Yeah, and he's goning to stay that way
You see, he's growing up the hard way
Walk the straight and narrow yeah, maybe someday
But still he's growing up the hard way
It's just the way he's grown up
Yeah, growing up the hard way
There ain't no other way
Growing up the hard way